§ 52-18 Electrical Metering Conversion.
RCNY § 52-18
(a)The cost of electricity for a current SCRIE or DRIE beneficiary's rent stabilized or rent controlled apartment is included in the frozen rent and may not be adjusted due to a change from master metering to individual metering of electricity.
(b)If a tenant is already receiving SCRIE or DRIE benefits when a SCRIE or DRIE beneficiary's building experiences a conversion from master metering of electricity to individual metering of electricity (also known as direct metering or sub-metering) and subsequently vacates the rent stabilized or rent controlled apartment associated with their benefits, then such building's owner is required to reduce the legal rent/maximum rent according to the rent reduction schedule in effect at the time of the vacancy. The new tenant is responsible for their legal rent as reduced, including any applicable major capital improvement rent increase based upon the cost of work done to effectuate the electrical conversion and their electric bill.
(c)If a tenant's SCRIE or DRIE benefits cease and the building's owner subsequently converts such tenant's apartment from master metering to individual metering of electricity (also known as direct metering or sub-metering), such owner may reduce the rent in accordance with the schedule of rent reductions and such tenant is responsible for their reduced legal rent and electric bills.
(d)If the tenant's SCRIE or DRIE benefits are reinstated, the building owner is required to eliminate the rent reduction and resume responsibility for the tenant's electricity costs. (Added City Record 5/14/2021, eff. 6/13/2021)
